Bout of Books Read-a-thon

Monday, August 22, 2011

It's time for another read-a-thon! After moping over the amount of challenges I have left to complete and feeling entirely overwhelmed by my library stock and review piles, I decided that Amanda's read-a-thon over at On a Book Bender is exactly what I need.

If you think you need one too, the good news is that it's going all week long. Personally, I get frustrated by weekday only or weekend only read-a-thons, because it's too much in a short amount of time. This gives me until Sunday night at 11:59pm to get through some books and feel like I actually accomplished something.

If you'd like to participate, it's pretty easy. You can click the button at the top of the page to find the sign-up page, and it's up to you whether you update your progress on your blog, via Twitter, through comments, or at all. Set your own goals, join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #boutofbooks, or just sign up and enter the giveaways. It's entirely your choice.

Speaking of giveaways - there will be 10+ giveaways by different bloggers all week long, and mini challenges too! It's going to be fun, relaxing, and full of awesome people. You can check the list of fellow participants to see who are all the cool kids and maybe even make some new friends.

Logan's starting line

My personal goals for the week are to get through at least 5 books. I have been burning the candle at both ends lately and my reading has fallen off, so I'm hoping this will be the push I need to find some enjoyment in reading again. With a busy work week facing me, and in-laws descending for the Chicago Triathlon this weekend, I think 5 is a pretty lofty goal, but I'll give it my best.

I have some review books I have to tackle and I want to read at least one book just for fun. Here's my planned list:

1) Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (review due 9/12)2) The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge (library book due back Wednesday) FAIL
I couldn't finish this before its due date, so I'm picking a new book.
2) Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (although I may have to abandon this one too because Galley Grab is not playing nice with my new Nook)
3) Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren (because why haven't I read it yet? It's getting dusty and that is UNACCEPTABLE.)
4) Lover Unbound by J. R. Ward (I've started this one and now just need to finish it)
5) To be determined (something spontaneous that I want to read in the moment)

I plan to devote at least one solid hour of reading per night instead of watching TV or blogging or Twitter stalking. This means uninterrupted, guilt-free, distraction-free reading time. It can be on the bed while hubby sleeps, but it is not to be reading done while attempting to multi-task (which is what I do most of the time). I also will be reading, per usual, during my morning and evening commutes and my lunch break. All told, that should equal roughly 15-18 hours, depending on how much I can work in on Saturday and Sunday.

To make it really interesting, I'm going to give myself a little carrot to dangle in front of my nose all week. If I successfully complete all 5 books by Sunday night, I will gift myself a "luxury" book. Now, I buy books a lot, but there are some books I still won't buy because I consider them investments, or too expensive, or not relevant to blogging and so I guilt myself into not buying them. If I complete this read-a-thon, I give myself permission to buy one of those books.

I will probably update here as I go, but may end up doing it mostly through Twitter. You can find me there at @loganturner. I'll try to post a short wrap-up post on Sunday.

Ready?........GO!

Amazingly beautiful and painstakingly crafted signature courtesy of Small Review

Hey is this some scheme to get me on Twitter? You have to post your updates here so I can stalk your progress! Good luck with your goals. :) You absolutely must read Torrent ASAP! It's so wonderfully amazing.

Ooh.. I've had a bit of a slump recently and I planned to catch up a lot this week.. I've never participated in a read-a-thon but I've always wanted to so perhaps I really should? I always feel silly with things like this, though, because I'm such a slow reader! And I'll only manage 2 or 3 books. Perhaps it could be fun though :)

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FTC Disclosure

Logan E. Turner may receive books provided for free by authors, publicists, blog tours, or via contests/giveaways. The source of each book reviewed and recommended on this site is disclosed in the review.

Logan E. Turner does not receive compensation for the publishing of reviews on this site or any other site, including but not limited to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and/or Goodreads.com.

All reviews are based on Logan E. Turner's honest opinion and are not influenced in any way by the source from which she obtained the book(s) for review.